Many teachers already use some kind of graphic organizer in their classrooms. However, some teachers might not have thought to utilize them while their students are reading (instead using it as an after-reading assignment). Since many educators are familiar with graphic organizers, I chose to give a brief overview of five of the major types, as well as a downloadable template for each. For more graphic organizer resources, see the "NOTE" at the bottom of the page.

Why use it?Graphic organizers "help students organize knowledge and see more clearly how elements in a text are related to each other." They are great for visual learners, as well as for struggling learners who have problems making abstract connections in their head. In this context, it also provides readers another way to organize their thoughts as they are reading.

How do I use it?Graphic organizers' main strength is their adaptability. Simply by adding a title and instructions to an existing template, teachers can make a customized tool for their students to use. Below are listed five different types of graphic organizers. I give a brief definition, as well as the type of content they are most applicable to.

1. Cluster Diagram: "Clusters are visual arrangements of terms, events, people, or ideas. They have a couple of purposes, including an alternative form of outlining, a strategy for studying, and a method of brainstorming...As students read, they can draw clusters of ideas that may in turn be connected to other concept networks to produce a mental map of interrelated ideas."

"To make a cluster, students write a key word [or the title of a reading] in the center of a page, circle the word, and place associated words or ideas around the key word and connect them with a line." This strategy, also known as mind mapping, is less organized then other graphic organizers, but is a useful way to track thinking while reading.

2. Process Organizer: "A process organizer does what it says it does: It organizes a process. If students read about a process, such as making a cake, a federal law, or a Frankenstein monster, they can use the process organizer to visualize and describe the steps in the process."

"Process organizers display sequence text structures that present ideas in terms of time or order." This makes them especially applicable to science (describing a reaction), history (giving a timeline), and math (solving a problem).

3. Cause-Effect Organizer:"Cause-effect organizers are designed to graphically represent an array of causes that contributed to some specific event."

These charts are very helpful in science and history classrooms, where the effects of certain experiments or battles can be better understood by looking at their effects (the results of the experiment or the changes brought about by the war.)

4. Decision-Making Organizer:Decision-making organizers can also be viewed as Pro/Con charts. They look at both sides of an issue by comparing its benefits and the disadvantages. It differs from a Compare/Contrast organizer in that it only looks at one topic or issue, instead of two.

The decision-making organizer is relevant in classes where controversial issues are discussed (In other words, in any classroom). This organizer is helpful for complicated issues and events, rather than simple terms or definitions.

5. Compare/Contrast Organizer: "With an organizer of this kind, readers can summarize familiar features of two concepts and their unique characteristics." A common example of this type of organizer is a Venn diagram.

This type of chart is also applicable to a variety of classrooms. Science teachers might use it to compare mammals and reptiles. History teachers might use it to compare World War I and World War II. Math teachers might use it to compare area and volume.